Yohannes Abraham
Yohannes Abraham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| United States Ambassador to Association of Southeast Asian Nations | |
| In office October 5, 2022 – August 27, 2024 | |
| President | Joe Biden |
| Preceded by | James Caruso |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | Yale University (BA) Harvard University (MBA) |
Yohannes Abraham is an American government official who served as United States Representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations from 2022 to 2024. He was selected to lead the planned presidential transition for Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris and resigned from the State Department to take up his new job in August 2024.[1]
Earlier in the Biden administration, he served as executive secretary of the National Security Council, and served as executive director of Biden's presidential transition. During the Obama administration, he served as a mid-level staffer in the White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, and was chief of staff to Obama senior advisor Valerie Jarrett.
Early life and education
[edit]Abraham was born in Virginia to immigrant Ethiopian parents[2] and raised in Springfield, Virginia.[3] He graduated from Westminster School in Annandale, Virginia,[4] and graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology in Fairfax County, Virginia.[5] He received a B.A. in political science from Yale College in 2007 and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where he graduated with high distinction as a Baker Scholar in 2019.[3] While in business school, Abraham was also selected as a residential fellow at the Harvard Institute of Politics.[6]
Career
[edit]Obama campaigns and administration
[edit]Immediately after graduating from college in 2007, Abraham went to work for the Obama '08 campaign in Iowa. After the Obama's victory in the Iowa caucuses, Abraham worked for the campaign in other states, eventually being named field director for his home state of Virginia.[7] During Obama's 2012 run for reelection, Abraham served as the campaign's deputy national political director.[8]
During the Obama administration, Abraham served as Deputy Assistant to the President for the Office of Public Engagement, and Senior Advisor to the National Economic Council. He served as Chief of Staff for the Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, reporting to Valerie Jarrett. Abraham also worked with Vanguard Group's global investment unit, and taught at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.[6]
Biden administration
[edit]Abraham was part of the Biden-Harris transition, where he oversaw many of the day-to-day operations.[3][9]
Ambassador to Association of Southeast Asian Nations
[edit]| External videos | |
|---|---|
 Announcement by Biden of Abraham's nomination, May 13, 2022, C-SPAN |
On May 13, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Abraham to be the representative to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.[3] Hearings on his nomination were held before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on July 13, 2022. The committee favorably reported his nomination to the Senate floor on August 3, 2022. Abraham was confirmed on August 4, 2022 via voice vote.[10] He presented his credentials to the Secretary-General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi on October 5, 2022.[11]
References
[edit]- ^ Dovere, Edward-Isaac (August 19, 2024). "Kamala Harris begins standard planning for presidential transition". CNN. Retrieved August 22, 2024.
- ^ "Biden Selects Yohannes Abraham as Member of Transition Team". Tadias Magazine. June 24, 2020. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ a b c d "President Biden Announces Key Nominees". The White House. May 13, 2022. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ "Alumni Profiles - Yohannes Abraham, Class of 1999". Westminster School. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
- ^ Woolsey, Angela (January 6, 2017). "White House staffer from Springfield reflects on working for Obama". Fairfax County Times. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Yohannes Abraham". The Institute of Politics at Harvard University. Retrieved November 25, 2022.
- ^ Olopade, Dayo (March 22, 2009). "The Root's Talented Ten: Yohannes Abraham". The Root. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
- ^ Allen, Mike (August 25, 2011). "Obama 2012 launches Project Vote". Politico. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
- ^ Mucha, Sarah (June 20, 2020). "Biden officially forms transition team | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
- ^ "PN2135 — Yohannes Abraham — Department of State 117th Congress (2021-2022)". US Congress. Retrieved June 1, 2022.
- ^ "Ambassador of the United States of America presents credentials". asean.org. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 10, 2022.